University of Virginia Library

Letter from Charles N. Tenney to Adelaide E. Case, 1862 Jan 18

Your favor of the
12th inst. is at hand, and
I have made it a rule to answer
promptly all letters from my Addie
consequently I now apply myself
to the very pleasant task of addressing
a few lines to you.

As all is known, now, dear Addie
need we have any secrets? I mean
as regards the feelings predominant
in our hearts. Addie, I cannot
refrain from telling you all.
Pardon me, I love you,
Addie,

not with that momentary effervessence
of feeling, common among boys, but
with a pure. fervent affection, which
comes welling up from my heart, all
unbidden, but irresistable. It may
perhaps be wrong -- you are far above
me, in worth and position -- but
my love is from the heart, and ?
increases in strength daily. Addie is
in my thoughts by night and by
day. But for thy darling letters, and
the impression on my heart when I
saw you -- I might have become
demoralized and lost forever.
Addie, do I love in vain? Do my
feelings meet with no response in
your heart? With you, dear Addie
rests my future. Will it be a
happy one, happy in your love
or must I be doomed to live
a wretched miserable life.
with no one to love, or to care for
me? I shall wait anxiously for
an answer, dear Addie, will it be
a favorable one?

My position in life, it is true,
is not an elevated one, but I know
and feel that I shall make a
mark in life. God has given me
talents and I shall improve them
I love you, Addie, and nothing else
Dare I hope that I am loved in return

Do not censure me, Addie, but
remember that I have none to
love or care for me.

But I must, however reluc-
tantly, turn to other subjects.
My mind is so tumultuous that
I can think of nothing interesting
to write. You asked me if Seth
Coon got married. No, I believe
not. He says that engagement

was broken off. and a new one
formed in another direction! We
must possess queer sentiments in
regard to such affairs, dont you think
so? A person so unstable in character
as that, I have but little sympathy
for. The Seventh is in the third
brigade, (Tyler's) of the Shenandoah (Landing)
department. It consists of the
7th Ohio, 7th Indiana, 1st Virginia
and the 110th Pennsylvania Regts.
the "Bloody Seventh," (ours) on the right.